Covid-19 crisis Lock down may not be the right strategy
It is now fashionable for governments to implement lock down to stop the spread of the corona virus. This requires people to stay at home for several weeks. This will be very costly to the country. Will it work? 

If it works and the virus is eradicated, the economic cost may be worthwhile. But if it does not work, the price is too high. 

There is no point in paying a high price to reduce the spread only to find that the virus is not totally eradicated and may return through a subsequent round of infection. 

What is the alternative?

UK is implemented an alternative approach. They are getting volunteers to take care of the elderly - to bring them groceries, food and other essentials. This will protect the elderly from infection. They are the most vulnerable.

For the rest of the population, it may be better for them to be infected by the virus. In most cases, the virus will not cause much harm. The infected people will develop the immunity.

We need to be able to test people quickly to determine if they have the virus. This rapid testing is now available.

Some of the infected persons will fall sick. They can be sent to hospital and given treatment. The infection will be mild for the majority of the patients. Some patients may be severely ill and may need ventilators. 

It should be possible to set up temporary hospitals specially to treat the corona virus. These hospitals can be set up in sports stadium or other public facilities. The patients have to be isolated from the general public, until they are cured.

The young people who are cured and have the immunity can be employed to help the hospital professionals to take care of the patients. This will reduce the overwork of the professionals.

This alternative approach is less costly in economic terms. It may be a better way to reduce the future loss of lives, as the majority of the young people would have built the immunity after being infected. 

Tan Kin Lian

Vote - do you support the alternative approach?

 

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